Rail joint



Feb. 16, 1932.

C. WERMOUTH RAIL JOINT Filed April 28. 1931 Nvu aofi.

ll'omey Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAIL JOINTApplication 11nd April 28, 1931.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in railwaysurface tracks, and more particularly to a novel railroad rail joint.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a rail joint of theinterlocking type which in use will eliminate the plates and otherexpensive devices for holding the ends of rails together.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a cou ling unitfor track rails of the conventional3 style, whereb the conventionalrails can be interlock together at their ends in a manner consistentwith the present invention.

In these and other important objects and advantages of the inventlonwill become apparent to the reader of the following speci-- fication.

2 In the drawings Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevationalview of a novel joint.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary perspective View of one end of a railsection.

Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary perspec tive view' showing the oppositeend of the rail section.

Fig. 4 represents a connecting unit, the sections of which areconstructed at their :zo adjoining ends by the interlocking means shownin Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it can be seen that numeral 5 representsa track section, one end portion of which is enlarged as at 6 andundercut to provide a tread extension 7 provided with a downwardlytapering tongue 8, having a transversely extending opening 9 therein.This tongue 8 tapers from its outer end inwardly to the shoulder 10 asis ap l0 parent in Fig. 2.

The opposite end of this rail 5 is provided with an enlarged portion 11which is provided with a pair of protuberances 12-12, each provided witha transversely extending l5 opening 13. These openings are in alinementand will be alined with the opening 9 when the tongue 8 is engagedwithin the space between the protuberances 12H12. These V, protuberanceseach taper inwardly from its un outer end, and as is further shown, eachSerial No. 538,446.

protuberance tapers transversely in an upward direction to accommodatethe corresponding taper of the tongue 8. In other Words, the tongue isboth tapered longitudinally and transversely and this is true also of o5the protuberances 12-12, so that the space between the protuberanceswill be such as will snugly receive the tongue 8 and lock the same notonly against downward displace ment, but also against longitudinaldisplacement.

The bolt 14 disposed through the openings 13 and 9 is preferably splitso that its furcations can be bent laterally after a nut has beenengaged thereon (not shown in the drawings).

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to .o without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is z- In a railjoint, a pair of rail sections hav- IJ ing base, web and ball portions,the ball of one of said rail sections being formed with an extensionterminating beyond one end of the base of that section and having anintegral depending portion diminished in width Se toward the free loweredge thereof and being co-extensivel with the said extension; the baseof the other rail section being formed with an extension terminatingbeyond the ball of that section and provided with upstanding Selaterally spaced portions having opposed Walls converging toward thelower portions thereof to define a socket receiving the dependingportions of the extension of the other rail section, and fastening meansjoining said depending and u standing portions.

In testimony wliereof I ax my signature.

CORNELIUS WEARMOUTH.

